Shabty of Nebwau, ca. 1539–1400 B.C.E. Limestone, Height 12 3/8 in. (31.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 60.99. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 60.99_NegA_bw_SL4.jpg)
Shabty of Nebwau, ca. 1539–1400 B.C.E. Limestone, Height 12 3/8 in. (31.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 60.99. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.60.99_wwgA-3.jpg)
Shabty of Nebwau, ca. 1539–1400 B.C.E. Limestone, Height 12 3/8 in. (31.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 60.99. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.60.99_mummychamber.jpg)
Shabty of Nebwau
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
On View: Funerary Gallery 2, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor
The Egyptians manufactured funerary figurines, originally called shabties, as early as Dynasty 12 (1932–1759 B.C.E.). The earliest shabties are inscribed with either the deceased’s name (see nos. 1 and 2) or a simple form of Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. The rarity and high quality of the early shabties suggest that they were costly items produced for privileged persons.
Later, Chapter 6 began appearing more frequently on funerary figurines. The text mentions that they do agricultural tasks for the dead person: irrigating the fields, cultivating crops, and clearing away sand that blew in from the nearby desert.
As substitutes for the deceased, these figurines were sometimes given their own sarcophagi (see no. 6). To emphasize the agricultural function of the figurines, hoes and grain baskets were added to them (no. 8).
Wood (nos. 9–11), stone (nos. 12–14, 16), faience (no. 17), metal, and other materials were used beginning in Dynasty 18. By the end of the New Kingdom, statuettes for a single person were often mold-made by the hundreds and even thousands. Faience became the medium of choice, first in blue and later in light green or light blue (nos. 17, 20, 21).
Later, Chapter 6 began appearing more frequently on funerary figurines. The text mentions that they do agricultural tasks for the dead person: irrigating the fields, cultivating crops, and clearing away sand that blew in from the nearby desert.
As substitutes for the deceased, these figurines were sometimes given their own sarcophagi (see no. 6). To emphasize the agricultural function of the figurines, hoes and grain baskets were added to them (no. 8).
Wood (nos. 9–11), stone (nos. 12–14, 16), faience (no. 17), metal, and other materials were used beginning in Dynasty 18. By the end of the New Kingdom, statuettes for a single person were often mold-made by the hundreds and even thousands. Faience became the medium of choice, first in blue and later in light green or light blue (nos. 17, 20, 21).
MEDIUM
Limestone
DATES
ca. 1539–1400 B.C.E.
DYNASTY
first half of Dynasty 18
PERIOD
New Kingdom
DIMENSIONS
Height 12 3/8 in. (31.5 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
60.99
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is on view in Funerary Gallery 2, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor
CAPTION
Shabty of Nebwau, ca. 1539–1400 B.C.E. Limestone, Height 12 3/8 in. (31.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 60.99. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 60.99_NegA_bw_SL4.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 60.99_NegA_bw_SL4.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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